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First-Hand Accounts of Harlem Building Explosion

By

Rubina Madan Fillion

Mar 12, 2014 12:20 pm ET

Firefighters respond to the scene in East Harlem.

AP

Witnesses described a panicked scene after an explosion Wednesday morning in East Harlem. As of early Wednesday afternoon, two women had died and at least 17 were injured in the explosion, according to a law-enforcement official. Many New Yorkers who live and work in Harlem shared their experiences and photos on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Reddit. The Fire Department of New York and Metro-North Railroad also used social media to communicate updates on the five-alarm fire. Here’s a selection of what witnesses shared on social media about the building collapse.